Chapter 199: Awakening the Celestial Python Bloodline
Duane was completely unaware of what was happening at Sea Cliff Castle.
Ever since leaving his Territory and entering Thorn Valley, his battles had never ceased.
Compared to the Hot Spring Mountain Range, there were more wild beasts and Demon Beasts here, and the variety was greater.
It was clear they preferred the living environment of Thorn Valley.
At first, closer to the Territory, the beasts weren’t very strong.
Duane used a Long Spear and an iron staff for live combat, gaining a good deal of Skill Level.
「Seven days later, in the woodlands at the foot of Heavenly Mountain.」
Covered in blood, Duane sat cross-legged on the ground, recovering his stamina.
Kaelon and Gaius, also exhausted, were spread out on either side, recovering their stamina while keeping watch over their surroundings.
Just a moment ago, they had encountered a colony of Frog Fish Monsters by the nearby lake.
This time, there were at least a thousand of them!
Even though the three of them were quite strong, it had taken a tremendous effort to wipe out such a massive swarm of Frog Fish Monsters.
Gaius glanced from time to time at Duane, who was meditating with his eyes closed. His gaze was filled with disbelief and awe.
He never imagined that the Baron’s strength was already far ahead of theirs, even stronger than Kaelon’s!
Without using a sword, he wielded his Long Spear and iron staff, effortlessly breaking out of encirclements no matter how many Frog Fish Monsters swarmed him.
Even when several Level 3 Frog Fish Monsters attacked together, Duane could quickly defeat them.
It turned out that the Baron was now the strongest person on Black Forest Island.
Gaius didn’t know why this was the case; all he felt for Duane was a deep sense of reverence.
Kaelon, in contrast, was calmer; after all, he was well aware of the Baron’s strength.
At this moment, Duane’s chest rose and fell slowly as he circulated the Cyan Snake Breathing Skill.
After this period of high-intensity combat, his Basic Staff Skill and Basic Spear Skill had reached Mastery.
Storm Fist, Vortex Slash, and Breaking Army Slash had reached the Perfection Level.
The Skill Levels of his other Skills had also increased.
The most significant improvement was to his Basic Breathing Skill.
Its Skill Level had now reached Mastery (399/400), on the verge of Perfection.
After several dozen minutes, the pale green Fighting Qi around Duane’s heart suddenly underwent a transformation, taking on a platinum-white hue.
Duane’s eyes snapped open. He keenly sensed that his body was undergoing a world-shaking change.
"What’s this?"
He looked at his hands in astonishment.
On the surface of his skin, dense, semi-transparent, platinum-white scales had grown, just like those of a snake.
At the same time, several lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[Congratulations, your Basic Breathing Skill has reached Perfection. You have gained 0.5 attribute points.]
[Your Perfection Level Basic Breathing Skill has granted you an Enlightenment, and you have obtained the "Celestial Python Breathing Skill." You have gained 1 attribute point.]
[Your Perfection Level Basic Breathing Skill has stimulated your body’s activity, and you have obtained the Celestial Python Bloodline. You have gained 1 attribute point.]
[Your Celestial Python Bloodline has granted you Snake Fang Assault, Scale Transformation, and the Celestial Python’s Eye. You have gained 3 attribute points.]
Duane’s eyes widened. He never expected that achieving Perfection in his Basic Breathing Skill would bring about such a monumental change.
"Bloodline Power!"
"Celestial Python Bloodline!"
With a thought, his entire body was instantly covered in the semi-transparent, platinum-white scales, making him look like a snake-person.
"AH!"
Gaius had been watching the Baron and happened to witness the process of "Scale Transformation," causing him to scream in terror.
The scream drew Duane’s attention to him.
Gaius’s pupils contracted violently. Stared at by Duane’s cold, platinum-white eyes, he felt as if he were locking gazes with a terrifying Demon Beast.
"Baron!"
His voice trembled slightly. The scene was too sudden, too horrifying.
Kaelon snapped back to his senses in surprise, his mind going blank for a moment.
After a long moment, he regained some of his composure and took two hesitant steps closer.
"You... You are... My Lord?"
Duane looked at his two subordinates’ expressions and thought, ’They probably think I’m a monster.’
However, in this world, physical changes brought about by special bloodlines did exist.
"Don’t be alarmed. It’s me."
Duane’s voice was unchanged, which allowed Kaelon and Gaius’s taut nerves to relax somewhat.
"What happened to you, My Lord?"
Kaelon was still very apprehensive and didn’t dare to look directly into his cold eyes.
Duane explained, "The Cyan Snake Breathing Skill stimulated my body’s activity, causing me to unexpectedly awaken the Celestial Python Bloodline."
As he spoke, he walked over to a tree and squeezed it lightly, and the bark fell right off.
"My physical durability and Strength have both been enhanced."
He turned and commanded, "Kaelon, attack me with your fastest speed!"
Kaelon gulped, a little intimidated, but he followed the order and attacked at his fastest speed.
In Duane’s vision, Kaelon’s movements seemed to have slowed by a couple of beats, allowing him to dodge with ease.
BANG, BANG, BANG...
The two exchanged blows continuously. Kaelon was being completely overwhelmed, while Duane didn’t even seem to be using half of his strength.
’So this is the power of the Celestial Python’s Eye!’ Duane was astonished.
With the Pupil Power from these eyes, he could not only clearly track Kaelon’s movements but also predict them to a certain extent.
His Body Skill was already excellent, and now with the aid of the Celestial Python’s Eye, it was like giving a tiger wings.
It could be said that among those of the same Level, his close-combat abilities were now top-tier.
Duane commanded, "Cut me with your sword!"
"Alright, My Lord! Be careful!"
After giving a word of warning, Kaelon drew his Longsword and chopped down forcefully.
Duane activated Snake Fang Assault. Every cell in his body instantly tensed, and his speed soared!
’Snake Fang Assault lets me burst out with four or five times my normal speed in an instant!’
At his current speed, no matter how Kaelon chopped, the Longsword couldn’t even touch his afterimage.
’This sword...’
In a daze, Duane felt that the sword didn’t seem very sharp.
He stopped and raised his hand.
CLANG!
He had actually caught the incoming Longsword with his bare hand.
"Impossible!"
Kaelon was so shocked he was petrified on the spot.
’I’m an Earth Tier Warrior, after all! Even though I wasn’t using my full strength, that’s not an attack someone can just catch with their bare hand, right?’
Watching from afar, Gaius trembled all over.
The Baron’s power had surpassed his understanding.
In his eyes, Duane no longer seemed human, but more like a Deity descended from the stories.
Duane released the Longsword and glanced at his palm. There was a clear, bloody line.
He deactivated the Scale Transformation effect, returning to his normal state. A shallow cut remained on his palm.
’Looks like even with Scale Transformation, I can’t catch a blade bare-handed without getting hurt.’
Kaelon hadn’t used his full power, nor had he used his Fighting Qi. Duane was injured even under these conditions; if Kaelon had used both, he might have been able to sever his hand.
’I should probably do less of this whole "catching blades bare-handed" thing.’
’Then again, once the Skill Level of the Celestial Python Breathing Skill increases, the defensive power of Scale Transformation should also get stronger, right?’
’They all say Bloodline Power is formidable, and today I’ve finally seen it for myself!’
Simone’s Fire Eagle Bloodline allowed him to defeat Human Tier opponents despite being a lower level, and after reaching the Human Tier, his strength was comparable to the Peak of the Human Tier.
And the boost from the Celestial Python Bloodline was far greater than that of the Fire Eagle Bloodline.
Duane guessed that among all Bloodline Powers, his Celestial Python Bloodline was likely in the highest echelon.
"My Lord..."
Kaelon said apprehensively, "Are you... a Celestial Tier Warrior now?"
He still found it hard to believe that an Earth Tier Warrior could catch his sword bare-handed.
’Even with Bloodline Power, its defense shouldn’t be that strong, right?’
"Not yet."
Duane shook his head. "But I will be soon!"
’As soon as I allocate my attribute points, I’ll be a Celestial Tier Warrior.’
Duane looked at Kaelon and Gaius. "Keep the matter of me awakening my Bloodline Power a secret. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t reveal it to outsiders."
"Yes, My Lord!"
The two of them quickly gave their assurances.
After all, who would believe such an incredible story even if they told it?